Chair bed



E. E. WOLLER CHAIR BED Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Nov. 8, 1950 E. E. WOLLER CHAIR BED Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed NOV. 8, 1950 Patented ()ct. 27, 1953 OFFICE.

2,656,877 01mm BED Edward E. Weller, Kenosha, Wi,s.-, assignor toSimmons Company, Kenosha, Wis.

Application November 8, 1950, Serial 194,663

. 1. This invention relates generally to convertible furniture and isconcerned particularly with a chair-or sofa which maybe convertedintoatbed. Morespecifically, the type of convertibl chair or sofa whichembodies the present invention is one which comprises three.hingedly-connecte.d sections-which are longitudinally extensible intoco-planar relationship to form'a bed, and in which two of those sectionsare foldable into overlapping relation with one another and to aposition at right angles with the third section to form the chair orsofa, It is the principal object of the-present invention to provide,ina convertible chair or sofa of this type, improved'and-simplifledmeans for effecting the conversion of the chair or sofa into a bed, andvice versa, and "more specifically to provide a unit of this typewherein the conversion may be effected by manipulation of only one ofthe foldable sections and without the need for engaging and disengagingany looks or latches. Other objects of the invention will becomeapparent and the invention will ,beunderstood by reference to thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings in which there, isillustrated one form of convertible unit embodying the invention. Inthe-drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a convertible chair unitin accordance with the invention, showing the unit in chair position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the unit in chair position, showing bymeans of broken lines the path of movement of oneof the sections of theunit during theconversion from chair, to bed, or viee'versa:

Figure 3- is a sideelevation similar to Figure 2, but showing the"movable sections at an intermediate position;

' Figure 4 is a similar side elevation showing the sections of the unitextended into co-planar relation to form a bed; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the unit illustrated in Figure 4,

Briefly, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings isa chair H which comprises three relatively foldable sections, viz. a.

stationary seat section or base l3. a back sec: tion 15, and an endsection I1, and an operating linkage l9 by means of which the sectionsmay be-locked in chair position, or converted into a bed by manipulationof the end section I! only.

The sections l3, l5 and I! are desirably constructed of angle iron framemembers to which a cushion-supporting fabric 21 is attached by meansofshort helicals 23. Asiilustrated, the

4 Claims. (Cl. 47)

fabric 2| is of the wire link typecomprisinglongitudinaland transversesections of wiresuitably interconnected and joined to the helicals 2.3.to provide a resilient support for cushions or the like, and includes aseat panel25 and a unitary panel 21 which is .commonto the back: sectionI 5 and end section II of the chair. Three removable cushions (Fig. 1)29, 3| and 3.3 are provided, two of which aresuperimposed on the seatsection I 3 to form a seat, the other reclining against the back sectionI 5 to form a back rest. When the sectionsare aligned to form abed, thecushions 29, 3i and 33 are spread out as a mattress, as shown in 4.

The seat section or base 13 includes a pair of opposed side members 35.,and opposed front and rear members 31 rigidly connected to thesidemembers by means of welding or otherwise. Short legs 39 are provided ateach oi the four corners of the seat section I3 and may, selllustrated,be formed integrally with the opposed side members 35. One of theflanges-of the legs is desirably turned under so as-to form afoot or padII for distributing the load over the supporting surface. Extendingrearwardly from each of the rear legsand rigidly secured thereto is anangle bracket 43 to which the operating linkage I 9 is pivotallyattached at 44.. The rear legs are preferably inclined downwardly .tothe rear so thatthe linkage 18 may be attached to the seat section 13 asubstantial distance rearwardly of the hinged connection between theseat and back sections without requiring an excessively long mountingbracket, and .acorner brace 45 is secured to the side member 35 and tothe rear leg to strengthen the leg against the downward thrust of theoperating linkage on the bracket 43. when the unit is used as a chair,as will later be described.

The back section l5 comprises a pair of 0pposed side members 41,. eachhaving. one end hinged at 49 to the seat section and having its otherend hinged at 5] to the end section 11. A cross member 53 rigidlyconnected between the opposed side members 41 adjacent their hingedconnection to the seat section 13 serves the dual purpose of anchoringone end of the fabric panel 21 which extends between the back and endsections, and maintaining the spaced-apart relation of the opposed sidemembers 41 of the hack section [5 against the inward pull of the,helicals 23 which support the fabric between the side members. This inturn assures the free action of the hinge connection 49 between the seatand back sections.

The end section |1 comprises a pair of opposed side members 55 each ofwhich is hingedly connected at to one of the side members 41 of the backsection and is rigidly connected at its outer end to a cross member 51which maintains the side members 55 in spaced-apart relation and formsan anchor for the outer end of the fabric panel 21.

When the chair I I is extended to bed position (Fig. 4) the back sectionI5 is supported at one end by its hinged connection 49 to the seatsection l3, and at its other end by a pair of foldable legs 59 pivotallyattached at 5| to the side members 41 of the back section l5. The endsection I1, in turn, is supported at its inner end by its hingedconnection 5| to the back section I5 and at its outer end by a similarpair of foldable legs 6|. An angle iron cross member 63, extendingbetween the foldable legs 59 which support the back section l5,maintains the hingedly connected ends of the back section I5 and endsection H in spaced-apart relation against the pull of the helicals 23.The cross member 63 is disposed below the plane of the fabric panel 21to permit the fabric to be downwardly deflected a substantial distancewithout interference.

The operating linkage [9, includes the legs 59 and 6|, a curved innerlink 65 and an outer link 61, identical linkages preferably beingprovided at both sides of the unit. The inner link 55 is pivotallyconnected at 44 to the angle bracket 43 secured to the rear leg of theseat section l3 and is pivoted at its other end to the foldable leg 59at a point 69. The outer link 61 is pivotally connected at one end tothe foldable leg 59 at the point 69, and at its other end to thefoldable leg 6| which supports the end section l1. The pivotalconnections of the links 65 and 61 to the intermediate legs 59 may be acommon connec tion 69, as shown, but it will become apparent from thesubsequent description of the operation of the chair embodying theinvention that the outer link 61 may be connected either to theintermediate folding leg 59 or to the inner link 65 at a point on eitherwhich is remote from the other.

The effective length of the inner link 65 between the pivot centers 43and 69, and the distance between the pivot centers 5| and 69 of theintermediate foldable leg 59 are such, relative to the length of theback section l5, that the inner link 65 and the intermediate leg 59 forma toggle for rigidly supporting the back section [5 in substantiallyupright or chair position. From Figure 2, it may be seen that when thetoggle knee 69 is disposed forwardly of a line extending between thepivot points 4-4 and 5|, any rearward force exerted against the backsection l5 tends to force the toggle knee 69 firmly against theunderside of the side members 41 of the back section whereupon the backsection is restrained against further rearward movement by the innerlink 65. The outwardly curved, lower portion of the inner link 65disposes its lower end 44 a substantial distance rearwardly of the hingeconnection 46 between the seat and back sections for greater bracingeffect, and yet permits the end section H to be compactly folded againstthe back section l5. The outer folding leg 6| is also desirably curvedas illustrated so as to depend vertically when the back section l5 andend section l1 are folded (Fig. 2) thus permitting the.

back and end sections to be folded closely together.

To extend the sections l3, l5 and I1 into coplanar, bed position, theoperator merely grasps the end section |1, lifting it to the positionindicated by the broken lines in Figure 2. If the hinged connectionsbetween all relatively movable parts are substantially frictionless, theback-section supporting toggle 4469-5| will remain looked as shownduring movement of the end section [1 to the broken line position. Thatis, the end section l1 and the outer link 61 will pivot freely about thepivot centers 5| and 69 Without disturbing the position of the latterforwardly of the line through the pivot centers 44 and 5|. However, uponfurther upward movement of the end section I1 from the broken-lineposition, the curved portion of the outer leg 6| will abut the undersideof the side member 55 of the end section H to prevent further relativemovement between the end section |1, the legs 59 and 6| and the outerlink 61, and the toggle knee 69 will then move rearwardly over-center,thus breaking the look. In the event that the outer foldable leg 6| isshaped otherwise than as illustrated, other positive stop means may beprovided to limit relative movement between the end section I1, the legs59 and 6|, and the link 61, or any adjacent pair of them, in order toassure that the toggle will be broken when the end section is carriedrearwardly and upwardly from its folded position. In other words, anappropriately positioned stop means between an adjoining pair of themembers just referred to will cause those two members to become fixedrelative to one another when the end section I1 is raised sufficientlyto cause the stop means to become effective thereby, in effect,converting the quadrilateral linkage 59-55-6|61 into a trilateral one,which is incapable of relative movement. Thus the end section I1 and itsappurtenances effectively become fixed to the toggle member 59, wherebyfurther upward movement of the end section breaks the toggle. When thetoggle knee passes rearwardly over a line extending between the pivotpoints 44 and 5|, the back section |5 will recline and the end section|1 may be lowered to the floor, as shown in Figure 3. It will beapparent that further rearward motion of the end section will fullyextend the legs 59 and 6|, and bring all sections of the chair intoco-planar alignment, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If, on the other hand, the hinged connections between the relativelymovable members of the unit are fairly stiff, the toggle knee 69 may bemoved rearwardly past center by only slight upward movement of the endsection l1 and the folded back and end sections may be moved moredirectly rearwardly into bed position without raising the end section tothe broken line position shown in Figure 2. That is, the frictionalresistance to free pivotal movement of the quadrilateral linkage 5955-6|61, particularly of the outer leg 6| with respect to the end section Hor the link 61, or both, will tend to cause the outer legs and the outerlinks 61 to prematurely move upwardly in unison with the .end section |1about the pivot 5| and, consequently, the resulting tension on link 61will shift the toggle knee 69 over center with respect to the linethrough the pivot points and 5| and thereby break the look.

For the sake of economy of construction and positive operation, theintermediate folding leg' 59 is preferably pivotally connected to theback section IS on a common axis with the hinge connection 5| betweenthe back and end sections." This conveniently permits the end sectionII:

to act directlyupen thelegslia, to urge them over center to make the las for exam:- iiler by the engagement of the downwardly- ,extendingdances of l the side members 55 with thehead of the rivet.constitutingqthepivot 59 (Fig. 2) or suitablesubstitute therefor;Howeven, the intermediate fielding leg, 58, may also be connected to theback: sectionnfirat a point spaced from the hingedcennection 51, withoutdeparting-linprinciple immmhecperation of the illustrated embodiment. In"such "case, the-abut mentof the curved the outer leg 61 with theunderside-oi the side member still operate in the manner previouslydescribed tojplacethe outer link 61in tension-andmcve the: toggleknee-4d rearwardly over center: to break :the clock. Moreover; with theleg, 59;-oon- .nccted to. the backsection li at apoint spaced fromltheeconneotion 51,,the folding ofthe end section II relative, to the: back,section: 15 will operate-to make-the toggle look, so long as the leg-58is positioned so that the pivot 68, during. the folding action of thechairisections, will pass forwardly of the pivots 5| and 44,. Normally,there, will be, .suificient friction in the pivot connections of theouter leg 6| with the side member SS-andthe outer link ,6?! to cause thelatter to exert a. thrust on the leg 59during foldingot the back and endsections of thechairbed. However, this purpose, itis obvious that .astop means may readily be provided between the outer leg 6|, the endsection 11,-, and the outer link 61, or any pair of them, so that, at, apredetermined point in the Ioldingaction of the chair-bed, the outerlink 57 will thrust the toggle knee 8-9 forwardly over center, withrespect toa line through the upper pivot iland the pivot center 44..

a It, will furtherbe-apparent that since the pri mary function of theouter link 5] is to fold and unfold the outer leg '61, the outer link.6] is not confined, as shown, to .a connection .at the toggle knee 69,Satisfactory operation may be obtained by connecting the outer link 51to the lnnerilink B5 or to the intermediate foldable leg 59 at points oneither which are spaced from the hinged connection 69 between those twomembers 65, and 59. .And in this connection it should "be noted that .ina still different ,situation, where the outer. links] is connected tothe inner link 85 and the leg '59 back section lbat a point spaced fromthe pivot center .51, the thrust of the outer linkb'l during the foldingof the bedsections must be directed so-that the point of action of theresultant force on the leg 58 passes forwardly of the line of thepointof connection ofthe folding leg 59 with the hack section, I5 and-thepivot,

When the'sections J 3, l5 and 1.1 are extended into bed position; asshown in Figures 4 and 5, the cushions 29, 3|, and 33- may berearranged, asindicatedain Figure A. to ifonnaa mattress for sleepingpurposes. This loose cushion arrangement has the advantage of giving theunit more attractive lines when used as a chair but it will beappreciated that the invention may be applied as well to a chair or sofawherein some or all of the cushions or upholstered portions are integralwith the frame sections.

In order to reconvert the unit from a bed to a chair, the operatormerely grasps the fabric panel 21 at some point adjacent; the axis ofthe hinged connection 5! between the back section I5 and the end sectionl1, and lifts the fabric until the back and end sections assume apartially folded if such trictionis insumcient for is connected to theposition; (Fig. 3): during; which: nicvemmt the ontenlegiiinwardlynalonathe surface towardthe seat section, 13; FurtherinWfl-I'd1H1OVW of secticni Hiram the foldedwattitudewshown infignrexartend it tclift and s to rottztethe outerleg iili teward its fullytoldedmo- 51 n.

With the outer. link 61' connected 1 direwly, to the intermediate leg 59and with the, interme;* diate leg. pivntedlom theaxis H- asshown. theintermediate leg il -will mcveinunism with and section I I ahcuti thepivot center it after relativemo theintermediate leg 53317136 mterflink6:1 iandithc outer, leg 6 or: any-adiacent pair "of comes restrained.Thereafter, thezendaectirm 13 becomes operable to force the toggle knee:69 forwardly ota line between: the pivot oentuvs'u and 5i tolcckthe-unit in chairposi-t-iom as illustrated in-Fig, z. It, willalso bethat the .bedrmambe folded into its chair-forming pcsitionr byagcaspanonlifting, member 51, ammwalb ingi forward to. 'move will? upwandlyrandx:forwamdly until the-back section: 4 isndsendmection 1 J assume: thepcsitionrshown. in dotted lines-in Eige ure 2. Having- :reached theindicated it will be apparent thatcdownward movement of A ,endsection iithe 'mt-oczrtm'rizlrwill effect atlmist on the toggle knee 69; throughthe outer link :61, to makeriihe toggle clock.

It will be aapparentvrmm theforegoinx; tionthat the oonvertibleunit ofirumitune one bodying the. vention ismgreatlyimpmvedmu in whichthecom/endows! the.- unit: imminor'sofa :to a bed-maybe slmnhn-andieasflyafl'ected bytmanipulating cnlyene of: the ramble-sections whichcomprise-thematic This; immnvedopem tion-results from the pravisien oi anovelioperata whidr is. inhenentlv'capable: of: 1: unit inchair-position .znd which may, hie-readily locked and ,umocked as dentitcttheamanipulata'onof the aforommtioned one section.

The features of, the invention; which ,aremhw lieveditc hemewi andpatentahle are ,setifm th cm the .followiugfilaims;

Iclolm: v 1. A convertible ohaira'bed 1: mun-Jprisinga-stationamseatsection, a i right; back:sectionpiratedv tic-the:rear, offal-id andendsecticnpivomlly. emented sectionrand-normally-dcpendingy-fnom said back section? atthe roan themot, said backscctiomnndsaid Lend-sectionbelmgrearwordly extensible intoco-planar--alignment with said form a bed, acdepending foldableilegptvotedto said sectionadiaoent the upper md of :said back section forsupporting section in bed position, a linkpivotedtosaidfiog and .izo'said seat section, the pivotal connection of said link to said seatsection being spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of said backsection to said seat section, said leg and said link forming a togglefor locking said back section against rearward movement from its uprightposition when the pivotal connection between said link and said leg isdisposed forwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection ofsaid leg to said back section and the pivotal connection of said link tosaid seat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end sectionnear its betweenhthe end eectioni ll,

smt section to lower end for supporting said end section in bedposition, a second link pivoted to said second leg and to one of themembers of said toggle, and means for limiting relative movement in onedirection between said end section and said second-leg whereby rearwardmovement of said end section away from its normal position is effectiveto break said toggle lock and to unfold said legs, thereby permittingsaid sections to assume said bed position.

2. A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seatsection, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear'of saidseat section, an end section pivotally connected at its upper end to theupper end of said back section and normally depending from said backsection at the rear thereof, said back section and said end sectionbeing rearwardly extensible into co-planar alignment with said seatsection to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivoted to said backsection adjacent the upper end of said back section for supporting saidback section in bed position, a link pivoted to said leg and to saidseat section, the pivotal connection of'said link to said seat sectionbeing spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of said back sectionto said seat section, said leg and said linkforming a toggle for lockingsaid back section against rearward movement from its upright positionwhen the pivotal connection between said link and said 0 leg is disposedforwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection of said legto said back section andthepivotal connection of said link to said seatsection, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near itslower end for supporting said end section in bed position, a secondlink'pivoted to said second leg and to one of the members of saidtoggle, and means for limiting relative movement in one directionbetween said second leg and said second link whereby rearward movementof said end section away from its normal position is effective to breaksaid toggle lock and to unfold said legs, thereby permitting saidsections to assume said bed position.

3. A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seatsection, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear of saidseat section, and an end section pivotally connected at its upper end tothe upper end of said back section and normally depending from said backsection at the rear thereof; said back section and said end sectionbeing rearwardly extensible into co-planar alignment with said seatsection to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivoted to said backsection for supporting said back section in bed position, said pivotalconnections of said leg and said end section to said back section havinga common axis, a link pivoted to said leg and to said seat section, thepivotal connection of said link to said seat section being spacedrearwardly from the pivotal connection of said back section to. saidseat section, said leg and said link forming a toggle for locking saidback section against rearward movement from said upright position whenthe pivotal con nection between said link and said leg is disposedforwardly of a line extending between the pivotal connection of said legto said back section and the pivotal connection of said link to saidseat section, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near thelower end of said end section for supporting said end section in bedposition, a second link pivoted to said second leg and to said firstmentioned leg, and a first means limiting relative movement in onedirection between said end section and said legs whereby unfoldingmovement of said end section is effective tobreak said toggle lock andto unfold said legs, and a second means limiting relative movement inthe other direction between said end section and said legs wherebyfolding movement of said end section is effective to make said togglelock and to fold said legs.

A three-section convertible chair-bed comprising a stationary seatsection, a normally upright back section pivoted to the rear of saidseat section, an end section pivotally connected at its upper end to theupper end of said back sec tion and normally depending from said backsection at the rear thereof, said back section and said end sectionbeing rearwardly extensible into coplanar alignment with said seatsection to form a bed, a depending foldable leg pivotedto saidbacksection adjacent the upper end of said back section for supportingsaid back section in bed position, a link pivoted to said leg andto saidseat section, the pivotal connection of said link to said seat sectionbeing spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection of said back sectionto section, said leg and link forming a toggle for locking said backsection against rearward movement from its upright position when thepivotal connection between said link and said ieg is disposed forwardlyf a line extending between the pivotal connection of said leg to saidback section and the pivotal connection of said link to said seatsection, a second foldable leg pivoted to said end section near itslower end for supporting said end section in bed position, a second linkpivoted to said second leg and to one of the members of said toggle, andmeans for limiting relative movement in one direction between said endsection and one of said legs whereby rearward movement of said endsection away from its normal position is effective to break said togglelock and to unfold said legs, thereby permitting said sections to assumesaid bed position.

' EDWARD E. WOLLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

